Inclusiveness and livelihood empowerment in community Forestry projects: the case of SADA afforestation project in Northern Ghana
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Date
2016-05
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KNUST
Abstract
In order to ensure wood supply and reduce pressure on the natural woodlands in Northern Ghana, the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) undertook an afforestation project in a number of communities in 2012. This study was conducted to assess inclusiveness and livelihood empowerment of the SADA afforestation project inNanumba North and South districts of Northern Ghana. The mixed method research design was used. Data was collected through structured questionnaire from 127 field workers and triangulated with interview schedules from key informants and focus group discussion from the six selected communities. The study found that local people from the selected communities and NGOs/CSOs were not involved in decision-making. A simple chi-square test (0.062) showed that, the level of involvement did not affect field workers choice of species since (ρ˃ 0.05). Regarding information flow to communities, a chisqure test conducted produced the output (p=0.003). It can therefore be deduced from the table above that, field workers perception of information flow to local people varies from community to community. Though the project lasted for only a year, the livelihood capitals of the beneficiary communities and more particularly the field workers were to some extent enhanced. Field workers constituting 38.6% perceived the human capital to be the most highly enhanced capital since knowledge and skills were acquired. The physical capital (7.9%) was the least enhanced. The communities and field workers were perceived as winners of livelihood outcomes due to the resources created and an increased in their income. In conclusions local people were only recruited to work on the fields, the human capital was the most highly enhanced capital but therewere potentials for other capitals and there were more positive livelihood opportunities or more winners than losers.
Description
A thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of degree of Master of Philosophy in Natural Resources and Environmental Governance